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The Wildlife Commission just posted information on how to get a permit to hunt feral swine at night. Beginning today, hunters can download a special permit from www.ncwildlife.org and hunt swine at night with the aid of a light.

Under this policy, archery and firearm hunters with a Commission-issued permit in addition to a hunting license may hunt feral swine after normal shooting hours (½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour past sunset) where local law allows; except by firearms on Sundays. The permits are valid through March 31.

With the holidays over and January looking like one big yawn of nothing to do but sit inside and wait for warmer weather, do you need a reason to get outside and get moving? If so, the Wildlife Resources Commission has plenty of reasons — 1,000 to be exact.

That’s how many catchable-sized brown, rainbow and brook trout the agency stocked recently in two ponds at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville. Some mighty nice-looking trout went into the ponds. The Commission stocked the trout in anticipation of four fly-fishing clinics that it, in partnership with Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation, is conducting in January and February.

Three basic skills clinics are scheduled for Jan. 7, 21 and Feb. 4. These basic skills clinics are ideal for participants who have very limited or no experience with fly-fishing. Qualified...

By participating in the Christmas Bird Count, you can get some fresh air and help wildlife. Organized by the National Audubon Society, the count sends citizen scientists — the volunteers — outdoors to count all the birds they can identify in a 24-hour period. The numbers provide information used to gauge the health of wintering bird populations.

Counts are going on right now, and you don’t need experience. Check out the National Audubon Society’s FAQ page for more information. For more places and ways to watch birds, visit www.ncbirdingtrail.org.

The Mobile Aquarium allows the Wildlife Commission to display live fish — trout in a “mountain stream” tank and bass, bluegill and longnose gar in a “coastal river” tank. You can’t eat ‘em, but it’s a good chance to see live game fish and non-game fish up close and personal. You can also get some face time with Wildlife Commission fisheries staff to chat up fishing or the latest fisheries management work being conducted on your favorite reservoirs and rivers.
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